There are two main versions of the Game Boy Advance SP: the AGS-001 and AGS-101.
The big difference is the screen:
- AGS-001: Frontlit screen
- AGS-101: Much brighter backlit screen
The AGS-101 has the better screen and is the model we'd choose, but it also costs more. If you just want an original GBA SP without spending as much, the AGS-001 is still a perfectly good way to play.
What is the AGS-001?
The AGS-001 is the original Game Boy Advance SP, released in 2003.
Its big upgrade over the original Game Boy Advance was the screen. The original GBA had no built-in screen lighting at all, while the SP added a frontlight.
As the name suggests, a frontlit display shines light onto the front of the screen rather than illuminating it from behind.
It meant you could finally play Game Boy Advance games in the dark without one of those ridiculous clip-on lights we all used on earlier Game Boys.
It works, but the screen can look a little washed out compared with a modern display.
What is the AGS-101?
Nintendo released an updated GBA SP in 2005, known as the AGS-101.
The main change was a backlit screen.
Instead of shining light onto the display from the front, the screen is illuminated from behind. Colours look richer, contrast is better and the image is much brighter.
Put an AGS-001 and AGS-101 next to each other and the difference is obvious.
The AGS-101 also gives you two brightness levels, controlled using the same button that switches the frontlight on and off on an AGS-001.
How can you tell an AGS-001 from an AGS-101?
The easiest way is to check the label on the bottom of the console.
It will show the model number:
MODEL NO. AGS-001
or:
MODEL NO. AGS-101
You can also tell when the console is switched on. The AGS-101 screen is much brighter and more colourful, while the AGS-001 has the slightly washed-out appearance typical of a frontlit LCD.
If you're buying one online, check the model number rather than relying on photos of the screen. Camera exposure can make an AGS-001 look much brighter than it really is.
Are there different colours?
Yes, and this can give you another clue.
The AGS-101 arrived much later in the GBA's life and was only sold in certain colours depending on the region.
But colour alone isn't a reliable way to identify one. Some colours were available across different revisions, shells can be swapped, and there are now loads of replacement shells available.
Again, check the label.
Do they play the same games?
Yes.
Both models play the same:
- Game Boy Advance games
- Game Boy Color games
- Original Game Boy games
There's no difference in game compatibility or performance between the two.
The difference is the screen.
Is the AGS-101 worth more?
Yes.
The AGS-101 is more desirable because of its backlit display, and prices reflect that.
Here at RetroQuest, we separate AGS-001 and AGS-101 consoles rather than treating every GBA SP as the same model. The difference between the screens is far too significant to lump them together.
That doesn't make the AGS-001 bad, though.
If you're buying a GBA SP to play and don't care about having the best original screen, the cheaper AGS-001 can make much more sense.
What about modern IPS screens?
There's now another option: a modified GBA SP with a modern IPS display.
These replacement screens can be brighter, sharper and more colourful than either of Nintendo's original displays.
But they're not original.
If you want the best screen possible, an IPS-modded SP is worth considering. If you want an original Nintendo console with its original display, the AGS-101 is the one to have.
Which should you buy?
If price isn't a concern, we'd pick the AGS-101. The backlit screen is a big improvement and makes the SP much nicer to use.
But the AGS-001 does exactly the same job. It plays exactly the same games, has a lit screen and tends to cost less.
So the choice is pretty simple:
Want the best original GBA SP? Get the AGS-101.
Want a cheaper GBA SP and don't mind the older screen? Get the AGS-001.